HAI Convention News 03-05-15

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MARCH 5, 2015

Convention News

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ORLANDO

Sikorsky S-76D demo whets appetite for flight With the S-76D certified by the FAA on October 12 last year and by EASA just five days ago, Sikorsky is busily giving demonstration flights in this latest evolution of the popular S-76 at Heli-Expo 2015 this week in Orlando, Fla. AIN was fortunate to have a videographer and this writer– a rated helicopter pilot–on the last flight of 13 sorties on Tuesday.

Raymond Altieri, vice president, COO and one of the founders of Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) of Wappingers Falls, N.Y. flew the demonstration flights. Sikorsky Aircraft bought AAG–which provides

charter, aircraft maintenance and fractional ownership–12 years ago, and Altieri has been an employee of Sikorsky since then. With thousands of hours in all S-76 models, the S-92 and Black Hawk, he is also an FAAdesignated examiner and provides flight reviews for Sikorsky test pilots.

Customers told Sikorsky they wanted better performance, a quieter aircraft and a better cockpit (less cluttered, more glass) compared with the S-76C++. The company obliged with new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S turboshafts providing

Continued on page 22 u

Sikorsky brought its S-76D to the show and is giving demo flghts to prospective clients and members of the media.

MARIANO ROSALES

by R. Randall Padfield

Organizers say this year’s show has been busy with a lot of foot traffic and buzz.

Heli-Expo scores big on return to Orlando

by James Wynbrandt

MARIANO ROSALES

With a full day to go, Heli-Expo 2015 appears on track to establish new benchmarks for exhibitor count, aircraft on display and attendance. As of midday yesterday, the 17,774 registered attendees far eclipsed the total count of just over 16,000 reached when the show was last in Orlando, in 2011.

The 735 exhibitors, more than 312,000 sq ft of display area and 57 aircraft on display also convincingly exceed totals from that record-setting year.

“From my perspective, the show is going great,” said Matt Zuccaro, president and CEO of show organizer Helicopter Association International, which organizes the annual show. “People are upbeat and excited, and early reports indicate that a lot of business is being done on the show floor.”

More than $2 billion in transactions and orders

are usually booked during Heli-Expo, and this year’s edition appears on track to keep that trend moving upward, a perception bolstered by comments from numerous exhibitors.

“An outstanding show, with a lot of traffic and buzz,” said Kristopher Burson at Lord Corporation. Guillaume Faury, president and CEO of Airbus Helicopters, pronounced his team “proud and excited” at attendees’ response to the new H160 medium helicopter and customer service initiatives the company unveiled here.

Suzanne Steiner at first-time exhibitor HeliTrak said attendee reaction has been “beyond our wildest dreams.”

Off the floor, conference and meeting rooms are hosting a full schedule of symposiums, forums and technical briefings, while the number of safety programs has been increased for this year’s show. o

ADVOCACY

AVIONICS

RETROFITS

MAINTENANCE

TRAINING

GA LEADERS TAKE THE STAGE

ASPEN CELEBRATES A MILESTONE

VECTOR UPGRADES AS350s

JSSI EYES MSP OPPORTUNITIES

FSI PLUNGES DEEPER INTO MARKET

Top executive from a wide swath of general aviation advocacy groups took the stage to air their most compelling concerns. And in one case, to cite a unique opportunity. Page 6

With more than 500 of its Evolution glass panels installed in helicopters, Aspen Avionics has a special guest to help celebrate. There is also a new series of STCs to crow about. Page 13

AS350BA operators who want to soup up to B2 performance standards can turn to Vector Aerospace for an upgrade. The added power boosts max takeoff weight and adds hover performance. Page 10

As one of the most recognized leaders in maintenance service plans (MSPs), Chicago-based JSSI is here at Heli-Expo seeking to reaffirm its commitment to the rotorcraft industry. Page 16

FlightSafety International has dipped into the deep end of the rotorcraft training market, adding 40 percent more simulators to meet anticipated training needs in the near term. Page 18

Everything you need at Heli Expo 15 in the palm of your hand.

Available for all your mobile devices ainonline.com/mobile

MD logs new orders, looks to future growth

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FOUNDED IN 1972 JAMES HOLAHAN, FOUNDING EDITOR WILSON S. LEACH, MANAGING DIRECTOR

For helicopter industry veterans, Wall Street the SEC and many former and present employees, it might be hard to believe that MD Helicopters has been a Lynn Tilton company for 10 years. But it is a fact, and this was the theme of the Mesa, Ariz. company’s press conference on Tuesday here at Heli-Expo 2015.

“MD Helicopters was born at the intersection of innovation, technology, design and manufacturing. The ‘House that Howard Hughes built’ changed the world’s rotorcraft industry by delivering beautifully simple engineered masterpieces,” said Tilton, CEO of MD Helicopters.

“When I acquired the company in 2005, I don’t think anyone believed this iconic American brand could rise again, yet we stand today stronger and better prepared than we have ever been for a future of innovation, expansion and growth.”

Among main achievements Tilton mentioned was the company’s re-entry into the defense market. Sales include training and armed helicopters in service with the Afghan Air Force,

Saudi Arabian National Guard, El Salvador Army, Costa Rica Police, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Mexican Air Force, South Korean Air Force and others, according to the company.

“We are continually improving supply chain performance, delivering responsive global customer service and support to a growing installed base, and we have returned to our historic legacy: providing high-performance, safe, reliable armed scout helicopters to the U.S. Army and our allies.

With these steps, we are well positioned to take on the challenges of our next decade and beyond,” Tilton said.

MD 902 Improvements

Tilton also announced that MD Helicopters plans to build a new version of its twin-engine MD 902, which suffers from the high cost of parts and their frequent unavailability because of outside part suppliers, she said. Tilton herself owns a 902, which is the one on display at Heli-Expo.

“We are redesigning the aircraft, so that we can manufacture a lot of the parts in-house. And we’ll begin to

BARRY AMBROSE

by R. Randall Padfield

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – Charles Alcock EDITOR - DOMESTIC SHOW EDITIONS – Matt Thurber PRESS ROOM MANAGING EDITOR – Chad Trautvetter THE EDITORIAL TEAM Gregory Polek Bill Carey Mark Huber Kim Rosenlof Thierry Dubois Kerry Lynch Curt Epstein Amy Laboda Chad Trautvetter David A. Lombardo Harry Weisberger Rob Finfrock R. Randall Padfield James Wynbrandt Gordon Gilbert GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER – Thomas Hurley PRODUCTION EDITOR – Jane Campbell THE PRODUCTION TEAM Mona L. Brown Grzegorz Rzekos John A. Manfredo Annmarie Yannaco Mark Phelps

MD Helicopters CEO Lynn Tilton outlines her plans for the company for the next decade, a plan that includes in-house manufacture of key components.

control a lot of our supply chain on the 902. This has allowed us to be successful on the single-engine line.”

Asked if the recent potential SEC enforcement action over the mismanagement of risky corporate loans made by Tilton’s private-equity firm, Patriarch Partners, which also owns MD Helicopters, was having an effect on MD Helicopters, Tilton responded, “I own 75 businesses…If you think this is the first time that I’ve ever had an investigation by a regulatory body, then you’re naïve. It is not affecting MD or any of my companies. It is not affecting MD or any of my companies. It is something I disclosed to the world that there is a potential regulatory issue in my life. And it is business as usual, or I wouldn’t be standing here.

There is absolutely zero effect on MD Helicopters or any of my other portfolio companies.”

According to Bloomberg Business, Patriarch sent a letter

to investors in the loan obligations it had created advising them of the SEC’s action and that it had hired an investment banker to begin talks with investors about restructuring the loans.

Yesterday, the company announced a contract to manufacture and deliver a new MD 520N helicopter to the Volusia County Mosquito Control in Florida. The single-engine 520N will join the unit’s two MD 500Es to expand the department’s ability to inspect and treat the region’s wet and drylands not serviceable by trucks or other ground methods.

It also announced a contract to manufacture and deliver a new helicopter for the Mesa Police Department Aviation Unit. Acquisition of the new MD 530F was approved by the Mesa City Council as an addition to the department’s existing fleet of two MD 500Es. o

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MARIANO ROSALES

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Meet the editors

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MARIANO ROSALES

Have you ever wondered how AIN produces its award-winning show daily publications around the world? Well here at Heli-Expo 2015 you can find out if you come meet the AIN editorial team at 11 a.m. today, March 5 at Booth 2474 in the Orange County Convention Center. You’ll be able to meet AIN editors such as Charles Alcock, Chad Trautvetter, Matt Thurber and Curt Epstein, plus AIN video producer Ian Whelan.

We look forward to telling you how AIN provides the helicopter industry with news around-the-clock and how we produce daily issues at air shows and conventions around the world. We also want to hear your news and your perspective on the challenges facing the industry. n

BRISTOW, AGUSTAWESTLAND SEAL AGREEMENT Correction: Bristow Group CEO Jonathan Baliff (left) signed a platform development agreement MoU with Finmeccanica CEO Mauro Moretti (right), accompanied by AgustaWestland CEO Daniele Romiti (standing behind Mr. Moretti). Mr. Moretti was incorrectly identified in n yesterday’s issue of HAI Convention News.

2 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

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Printed in Orlando by Central Florida Press

HNZ GROUP TO ADD FRASCA AS350 FTD Montreal, Canada-headquartered HNZ Group (Booth 2218), a multinational helicopter transportation and support group of companies, announced on Tuesday that it purchased an Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2/B3E level 7 flight training device (FTD) through an agreement with Frasca International (Booth 5031). “Canadian Helicopters’ plan to incorporate the FTD into its program will enhance training and improve safety,” said Frasca International president John Frasca (right).

“Synthetic training is recognized by Transport Canada and our major customers as an effective tool, and this FTD represents the leading edge of technology in simulated flight. This acquisition offers us both safety and economic benefits,” said Don Wall, president and CEO of HNZ (center).

The AS350 FTD will include detailed graphics of Edmonton, Alberta, and several other Canadian locations where HNZ companies typically perform complicated maneuvers with their combined force of more than 60 AS350s. It will simulate three different AS350 versions: the AS350B2 analog, AS350B2 VEMD and the AS350B3e. “We plan to design swappable panels and power/controls to create effective simulations,” noted Frasca/HNZ project manager Bob Summers (left). –A.L.

BRISTOW TAPS GE AVIATION FOR LONG-TERM CT7-8A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

BARRY AMBROSE

Bristow Group (Booth 5031) signed a 10-year agreement with GE Aviation (Booth 5271) for an hourly cost maintenance program covering Bristow’s GE CT7-8A turboshaft engines powering its fleet of more than 50 Sikorsky S-92s. The agreement, signed yesterday at Heli-Expo 2015 with executives from both companies in attendance, continues a longstanding relationship between the two companies by combining several short-term hourly cost maintenance programs into a single, long-term agreement that will provide Bristow with predictable engine maintenance costs. In October, Bristow Norway became the first helicopter operator using the GE CT78A engine to surpass 15,000 flight hours without a shop visit.

–C.T.

407HP finds first customer

ENSTROM INKS DEALS FOR TH180

Aeronautical Accessories, a brand of Textron’s Bell Helicopter (Booth 337) has received STCs for several aftermarket modifications for the Bell 407/429. The Bell 429 offerings included an emergency egress lighting system; a left-hand pilot seat removal kit; a FLIR Systems Star Saphire 380-HD system installation kit; a flight-data monitoring system; a retractable hard-point kit and a tailrotor pedal removal kit. The Bell 407 offering is a portable hoist designed for engine and transmission replacement. n

Jeff Roberts, right, will take over the CEO role at Erickson from Udo Rieder, who is retiring.

A new CEO for Erickson

feet agl and found the RollsRoyce-powered helicopter to be a little out of its element. “The 407HP has the horsepower for hot-and-high operations. We flew our [stock] helicopter for firefighting with a 270-gallon tank.

With the two helicopters we are purchasing, we’ll be able to fill it all the way up,” he continued.

The Honeywell-powered 407HP has a 19-percent higher payload capacity at 10,000 feet agl over a stock Bell 407, and it can do that burning 17 percent less fuel, according to Eagle Copters (Booth 1512). Sean Reid, CEO of ARH, said his company is still trying to figure out what kind of Bambi Bucket to purchase for the new machines. o

by Mark Huber Aviation industry veteran Jeff Roberts is replacing Udo Rieder as CEO of Erickson, Inc. (Booth No. 1528) effective April 1, the company announced here at Heli-Expo on Tuesday. Rieder is retiring after seven years as CEO. During that time he took the company’s stock public, acquired the assets of Evergreen Helicopters and Air Amazonia, diversified the company’s portfolio of services and its business base including moving into the oil and gas market, and more than doubled its employment.

Roberts began his career as a pilot and most recently was group president of aviation training company CAE and previously served as CEO of SimuFlite. “The group, assets, and focus Udo put together for us is the right focus for Erickson as we go forward,” said Roberts.

“Joining a market leader with a global footprint and a diversified portfolio of business is a tremendous and exciting opportunity. I look forward to leading the team at Erickson to its next phase of growth.” o

BARRY AMBROSE

BELL MODs STC’d

Eagle Copters president Mike O’Reilly was beaming yesterday when he introduced the launch customer–Air Resources Helicopters (ARH)–for his company’s newly certified 1,020shp Honeywell HTS900D-2powered 407HP conversion.

The helicopter services company is buying two 407HPs and is considering the purchase of one more. Eagle Copters’ news comes after a 3.5-year certification program with partners Bell Helicopter and Honeywell, culminating with U.S. and Canadian approvals in December.

California-based ARH founder Chuck McFarland said he’d flown the stock Bell 407 loaded with skiers up to 14,000

MARIANO ROSALES

Enstrom Helicopters of Menominee, Mich. announced launch customers for its new TH180 two-seat piston helicopter at Heli-Expo 2015.

The customers are Indiana Helicopters; DSA Aviation Company, Czech Republic; Sharkeys Helicopter, N.H.; and Safomar, South Africa.

The first flight of the TH180 prototype was made on February 6 and this aircraft is on display at Heli-Expo (Booth 1828). Price of the TH180 is planned to be less than $400,000, said an Enstrom n spokesman.

Eagle Copters president Mike O’Reilly, left, and Air Resources CEO Sean Reid sign letters of intent for two copies of the Eagle Copters 407HP conversion.

www.ainonline.com • March 5, 2015 • HAI Convention News 3

Test pilots say AW609 is easy to fly

by Mark Huber AgustaWestland AW609 test pilots Dan Wells and Paul Edwards insist that the civil tiltrotor is “easy to fly” for those transitioning from either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft.

The duo brought AW609 test ship number one to Heli-Expo from the manufacturer’s 609 test facility in Arlington, Texas.

Along the way they flew up to 23,000 feet and saw average fuel burns of 1,000 pph.

Wells joined the program three and a half years ago after serving as a U.S. Army test pilot and being seconded to the Air

Force to fly its version of the military V-22 tiltrotor, the CV-22, test flying avionics packages.

After serving in the Army for 26 years, he joined Bell Helicopter and then AgustaWestland when Bell sold its share of the 609 program to the Italian manufacturer. Wells has logged 650 hours in tiltrotors.

Edwards flew rotorcraft as a test pilot for the UK Royal Navy and was seconded to the U.S. Navy as a rotary wing test pilot. He has both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft experience. He joined the 609 program

in 2013 and has 300 hours in the tiltrotor.

Edwards said the hardest thing about flying the 609 is to keep in the proper mindset given the aircraft’s profile. “It changes from a fixed-wing aircraft to a helicopter in about 30 seconds.

So you have to fly it like a fixedwing when it is fixed-wing and then get ready to fly it like a helicopter. It sounds trite, but that is what it is like.

“The fly-by-wire system makes it very easy to fly,” Edwards added. “Dan and I also are both instructor pilots.

AVPRO NOTCHES PRE-OWNED SALES AT HELI-EXPO 2015

MARIANO ROSALES

Aircraft brokerage firm Avpro (Booth 1867) has had a busy week here in Orlando at Heli-Expo 2015. The Washington, D.C.-area company sold a Bell 429 on behalf of its client Saereos, the Bell distributor in Ecuador, on day one and followed that up with a separate transaction for the sale of a pair of Airbus Helicopters EC135T2+s, one EMS-configured and the other with a corporate interior, owned by Kocoglu Group to Inaer Babcock Mission Critical Services. “The agreements ratified during this week’s Heli-Expo, so far, underline Avpro’s commitment to the helicopter market,” said company managing partner Bob Rabbitt.

–C.E.

L to r: Emmanuel Dupuy, head of the helicopter division at Avpro, celebrates deals closed at this week’s Heli-Expo with Turkish client Ugur Kocoglu, buyer Frederic Goig of France’s Inaer, and Candas Ozdogu of Kocoglu Group.

4 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

When you transition from helicopter to fixed-wing you do have to increase alpha a little to get wing lift. A helicopter is designed for zero alpha. When you roll on the bank in the helicopter you increase a little collective. In an airplane when you roll on the bank you increase a little bit of alpha and that is exactly what you do with this,” Edwards said. “You just have to remember that when you roll into the turn unless you are in conversion mode, when you have to do a little bit of both.”

Edwards said development of the fly-by-wire system on the aircraft is largely done. “We’re down to the minutiae,” he told AIN. “It flies beautifully.”

Flying an approach from fixed-wing configuration at full speed to a vertical landing is a busy event, but the fly-by-wire control system helps lessen the pilot workload. “You pull the power off at 250 knots and it slows down at about 10 knots per second,” Edwards explained. “Once you are below 200 knots, you make the first click on the thumbwheel. That speeds the proprotors up to 100 percent. They’re

at 84 percent in level cruise for noise abatement and efficiency. That slows you down some more and in a couple of seconds you’re below 180 knots. One more click and the rotors come back off the stops to 50-percent nacelle. Another click and in five seconds you’re doing 80 knots at 75-percent nacelle turning onto final. You can go from 240 knots to 80 knots in about a minute. On short final you’re at 82-percent nacelle and about 40 knots.

Bring the nacelles back to 95 percent and that will stop you really quickly. You can be on the helipad a minute after you were on the downwind at 240 knots.”

Wells said the 609 really shines on steep approaches.

“When you tilt the nacelles back to 95 percent, the fuselage is going to be at about minus seven or eight degrees. You can see exactly where you are going. You can see any obstacles. It is totally different than a helicopter. You’ll feel yourself hanging in the shoulder belts.

If you are going into an austere environment, that is an amazing ability.” o

AAR AIRLIFT SIGNS FOR TWO SAR AW189s AAR Airlift Group of Wood Dale, Ill., signed an order yesterday at Heli-Expo 2015 for two new-production AgustaWestland AW189s that will work under a contract for the UK Ministry of Defense. The helicopters will be delivered to AAR in October and November and enter service in the Falkland Islands by April 1, 2016. Although search and rescue was once exclusively a government/military function, AAR developed a commercial search-and-rescue program that meets CAA requirements.

Technical requirements of the search-and-rescue mission in the Falklands included all-weather search-and-rescue, helicopter emergency medical service, rescue hoist, night-vision imaging systems and passenger and cargo transfers.

The Falklands Islands program will also include Sikorsky S-61 helicopters for support, flight operations, maintenance, logistics and facilities support.

Shown at the order signing are (left) David Storch, chairman and CEO, AAR and Daniele Romiti, CEO, AgustaWestland. –R.R.P.

BARRY AMBROSE

Pilots of the AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor say the hardest thing about flying the aircraft is keeping in the proper mindset given the aircraft’s profile.

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MARIANO ROSALES

TECHNICIAN SHORTAGE

CEOs and leaders from seven aviation associations discussed critical general aviation issues yesterday.

Diverse GA groups discuss their shared concerns

by Amy Laboda National Air Transportation Association; and Ed Bolen, president, National Business Aviation Association.

Top Issues

The diverse group was united onstage in each leader’s concern for how the FAA reauthorization will shake out this year.

“Privacy has been a big issue with NBAA and within the community for a long time,” said Bolen.

“Historically the BARR [block aircraft registration request] program preserved privacy. We fought to keep it, and ultimately

R-R joins forces with Composite Helicopters With the swish of pens on March 4 at Heli-Expo 2015, Rolls-Royce senior vice president Jason Propes and Composite Helicopters (Booth 3265) CEO Peter Maloney sealed a deal to explore the development of a turbine helicopter with an advanced composite fuselage.

Built from Maloney’s trademarked EvoStrength technology, the Composite Helicopters KC630 is one of three helicopter variants under development at the company. Each is constructed from a full monocoque fuselage fabricated entirely from rigid composite materials, promising excellent impact, corrosion and fatigue resistance.

“This is the first time we are showing the helicopters in a

professional environment, and we are seeing that the helicopter community is ready for us.

We are moving into high-tech composite construction, which creates a strong, robust airframe with a design TBO. The response is overwhelming–56 signed declarations of interest, and we expect 30 deposits in hand this week [at Heli-Expo].

We are targeting type certification by the end of 2017,” Maloney told AIN. “Rolls-Royce has been very supportive throughout our development program, and we are looking forward to a long and productive relationship with the company,” he continued.

Echoing Maloney, RollsRoyce’s Propes said, “The RollsRoyce RR300 is an ideal choice

Congress stepped in and recognized the right to privacy in the air. We are moving to ADS-B now, and NBAA has been supportive, but we’ve consistently registered concern about protecting privacy under ADS-B,” he continued.

On the same tack, Principato of NASAO reflected his concern that fuel taxes are not being used for airport improvements. “We know there is political pressure up the food chain from people who might want that money spent elsewhere. We want to prevent that from happening.”

Meanwhile, GAMA’s Bunce reflected on how changes to Part 27 and 29–regarding rotorcraft certification–could open the way for new production. “Just as recently as Monday we had a meeting with manufacturers, and the FAA representatives told us we have a unique opportunity to apply the Part 23 [rewrite] process to Part 27 and Part 29. My concern is that the rotorcraft manufacturers have not traditionally worked together. We need to break down those barriers so that they see and seize this opportunity and make change,” he said. o

for the KC630, with the right mix of power, reliability and economical operation. We, too, are looking forward to continued discussions and the progression of the KC630 through the type certification process.” The RR300 engine was developed out of the legacy of the Rolls-Royce M250 engine line, which has more than 235 million flight hours across 31,000 engines powering more than 100 different types of aircraft.

The Composite Helicopters agreement was one of several Rolls-Royce (Booth 3228) made during Heli-Expo 2015. The company also agreed to extend its fleet operator agreement with Canadabased helicopter touring company Alpine Helicopters for support of the company’s M250-powered fleet of helicopters. –A.L.

6 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

MARIANO ROSALES

Key leaders from seven general aviation associations met during Heli-Expo 2015 to debate critical issues affecting their members.

The panel, moderated by Helicopter Association International president Matt Zuccaro included: Melissa Rudinger, senior vice president, government affairs, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Jack Pelton, CEO, Experimental Aircraft Association; Peter Bunce, President, General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Greg Principato, president, National Association of State Aviation Officials; Thomas Hendricks, president and CEO

A group of maintenance professionals from companies including Bell Helicopter, Vector Aerospace and Trace Worldwide held a symposium here at Heli-Expo yesterday to address the current and anticipated shortage of helicopter maintenance technicians. Hosted by Turbomeca USA (Booth 2620) and moderated by Fred Polak, president of Global Avionics Training Specialists, the more than one dozen attendees offered ideas on issues at the core of the problem: how to encourage young people to consider becoming helicopter maintenance technicians; how to promote helicopter maintenance as a professional career; and what the industry can do to be more competitive against other industries seeking to hire available qualified employees.

Jean-Louis Mostajo of Turbomeca Training said perception of the job needs updating. “‘Mechanic’ is the past,” he said, suggesting the digital aspects of today’s maintenance could interest prospects.

Ray Lomas of Bell Helicopter recommended promoting the adventure and global opportunities available.

Polak said, “I refer to them as helicopter maintenance professionals,” but added that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks helicopter maintenance as a blue-collar job, “the same as a car mechanic.

That’s insane, and you can quote me,” he said.

–J.W.

Jason Propes, left, Rolls-Royce senior vice president, helicopters, and Peter Maloney, CEO, Composite Helicopters, sign an MoU to place the RR300 turbine engine with the in-development Composite Helicopters KC630.

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L-3 deals SkyWatch TCAS to support specialist Extant Melbourne, Fla.-based Extant Components last week reached an agreement to acquire the SkyWatch TCAS line from L-3 Avionics Systems. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Extant offers licensing, obsolescence management and sustainment services for aging avionics products.

The deal includes the SkyWatch 497 traffic advisory system (TAS) and the SkyWatch HP system, which can be installed as either a TAS or TCAS I with a conforming display and antenna. Since being introduced in 1996, more than

15,000 SkyWatch systems have been installed in aircraft ranging from piston singles to helicopters to turboprops to light business jets.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to expand our partnership with L-3 Avionics Systems and add the iconic SkyWatch line to the Extant family of products,” said Extant CEO Jim Gerwien. “We look forward to supporting SkyWatch customers with our wide array of in-house electronics manufacturing, engineering, test and repair capabilities for many years to come.” –C.T.

CONVERSATION STARTER There’s one thing about Heli-Expo: you always have something to talk about. Whether you’re a seasoned rotorcrafter or new to the game, everyone has something for you to share.

There’s an ongoing power struggle on most aircraft, today – not enough power for all the electronic devices passengers bring on board. The solution is the TA102 Dual USB Charging Port from True Blue Power ®. The TA102 simultaneously provides 2.1 amps of power per charging port to any consumer product requiring a USB interface. This next-generation in-seat, cabin or cockpit power source enables nonstop entertainment and business productivity on the fly.

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Semco is now blended into the Harco brand Turbine engine component maker Harco (Booth 5900) and Semco, which supplies electronic equipment for turbine engine and airframe OEMs, have completed the integration of their businesses in the wake of merging in October 2014. The union is intended to create “the pre-eminent solutions provider for sensors and customer

Learn more

booth 712

interconnect solutions,” said Rick Hoyt, Harco marketing manager, improving the company’s ability to service customers while offering a broadened engineering and manufacturing capability.

Branford, Conn.-based Harco’s executive management team has assumed responsibility for the integrated business, which will operate under the Harco name, and a new president, Patrick Murphy, has been named. “I am excited to join a company clearly on the rise,” said Murphy, “to help leverage the existing strengths of Harco and Semco into a better customer experience.” –J.W.

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Lincoln, Neb.-based Hillaero Modification Center (Booth 5408) brought its newly certified Med-mount for the Hamilton T1 ventilator, which is used by medical air-evacuation services nationwide. With the new mount the ventilator can be rotated 360 degrees, allowing technicians and flight medics to precisely position the equipment. It also allows for safe operation of the equipment during all phases of flight.

In addition, installation and removal of the ventilator using the new mount is accomplished with a one-pin release system. The mount is being used by Stanford University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Riverside, Cox Health and Airlife Denver.

–A.L.

NEWS CLIPS z Aerosafe Helps Operators With Risk Management When the National Transportation Safety Board declared in 2006 that aeromedical operators needed to implement programs that support systematic evaluation of flight risks, Aerosafe Risk Management (Booth 5059) had already been advising helicopter pilots on risk management around the world for nine years. The company, founded by Kimberley Turner, developed a risk-management program for the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy, British Airways, Shell Aircraft and ICAO. Today Aerosafe has served more than 350 clients in 16 countries worldwide, encompassing the defense, aviation, regulatory and transport sectors. The company’s work lead to it launching the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) in 2005, which allowed operators in Australia, the U.S. and Canada to address the NTSB’s concerns about air-ambulance and emergency medical service safety.

The ASN offers a common risk management program that members can tailor to their specific needs. Elements include a venture risk-planning module, corporate governance and oversight model, an enterprise risk-management framework, operational risk-management tools and practices and an online incident-reporting system with trend-analysis capability.

Education is also a key component of ASN member offerings.

z Machida Videoscope Illuminates Engine Condition Here at Heli-Expo 2015, Machida (Booth 4455) is debuting a portable light source with its approved FBA-4B-100P 4-mm fiberscope. In addition attendees can get hands-on experience with the company’s DPU 7-7070 high-definition digital processing unit attached to a 3-mm videoscope (VSC3-140-NL) on Pratt & Whitney Canada, Turbomeca and RollsRoyce helicopter engines.

The unit includes a 10-inch monitor in a stout Pelican case for easy transport to field maintenance locations. Staff are available at the booth to provide tricks and tips that make using the equipment simpler and more efficient.

z Staco Aims Small in Helicopter Market Staco Systems (Booth 5263) is displaying a variety of cockpit solutions tailored to the helicopter market at Heli-Expo.

The company manufactures a variety of illuminated panels, subsystems, switches and data-entry solutions. Here at the show, Staco is featuring its “online switch configurator,” which can automatically design a switch, create a part number and generate a price quote.

Helicopter applications for Staco products currently include keyboards for airborne law enforcement, subsystems for night vision and cameras and autopilot switches. Staco’s illuminated panels use a unique polymer over acrylic paint, which prevents light leakage, and its S200 and S300 switches are small and lightweight and therefore ideal for helicopter cockpits, according to company vice president Jeff Bowen.

“Rotorcraft operators have very specific application challenges and our products have unique characteristics that meet their needs. Visibility and durability especially matter in this hard-working sector.”

Vector Aerospace provides support for the Colombian air force’s PT6Ts and JT15Ds.

Older AS350 models get upgrade at Vector

by Curt Epstein MRO specialist Vector Aerospace has received approval to upgrade the AS350BA model to the AS350B2 standard. Since the beginning of the year, the company has completed two of the conversions, and according to president and CEO Declan O’Shea, it expects to perform another 10 by the end of the year and similar numbers annually for the next four years. Vector Aerospace is wholly owned

by Airbus Helicopters.

Depending on the age of the helicopter, the conversion kit costs approximately $800,000 split between the cost of the new Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine and modifications to the airframe, systems and instrumentation.

The Canadian company can either perform the upgrade at its British Columbia facility, or it can dispatch the kit along

z Axnes Unveils Secure Digital Radio System Norway-based Axnes (Booth 5161) is well known for its Polycon wireless intercom system extension, which it developed in cooperation with CHC, Bristow Helicopters and the UK Royal Air Force. Over the course of two decades the EASA Part 21and Part 145-approved organization has equipped more than 750 aircraft with wireless intercom systems, and is an approved supplier to OEMs such as AgustaWestland, Airbus Helicopters, Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky.

At Heli-Expo 2015, Axnes unveiled its new PNG system, designed to replace Polycon. The full-duplex wireless system works inside and outside the aircraft with AES 128 and AES 256 encryption. It is dual-band and ruggedized and includes integrated distress-transmission capability.

10 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

with a crew to any operator’s location worldwide.

The process will take six to eight weeks depending on variables such as age of the helicopter. Aircraft built before 1987 will require more modifications, such as a main rotor mast upgrade, and any other recommended modifications the customer chooses.

Performance Boost

“We believe that with the new engine installed, with these modifications the increase to the max takeoff weight and the boost to in- and out-of-ground effect hover, it actually adds more than the cost of the modifications,” O’Shea told AIN. “It depends on the year of manufacture but if you think about the hours that people intend to run a 350 and amortize the $800,000, it adds more than 10 years to it.”

Here at Heli-Expo, Vector Aerospace (Booth 3212) is displaying its new direct primary fuel tank replacement for the AS350, developed in cooperation with Robertson Fuel Systems.

In addition to incorporating the latest safety improvements, the aftermarket tank’s capacity is increased to 150 from 146 gallons.

As part of its full aircraft coverage commitment for the AS350, the company has earned FAA and Transport Canada authorization to conduct 12-year inspections on the type and recently completed three such examinations including two for Reno, Nev.-based Air Methods affiliate CareFlight. Another is scheduled for this month. Vector just announced an agreement with Air Methods itself, which will make it the primary supplier for all the aeromedical transport provider’s AS350 and EC130 dynamic components.

Not limited to servicing Airbus Helicopter products, the MRO provider announced it has signed a five-year agreement with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for the upkeep of its fleet of not only AS350s, but UH-1Hs. In continuance of its four-year relationship with the Royal Thai Navy, Vector will begin its third complete airframe refurbishment of one of its S-76Bs. A separate multi-year agreement will see the Canadian company provide maintenance support for the Colombian air force’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T and JT15D engines. o

ASTRONAUTICS DEMOS NEXT-GEN HELO AVIONICS Astronautics (Booth 5306) is showcasing its next-generation avionics architecture for helicopters here at Heli-Expo 2015. Dubbed FAST–for flexible, adaptable, scalable cockpit technology–the platform will include a fully integrated and certified helicopter terrain awareness and warning system (HTAWS) and synthetic vision system (SVS), in addition to displaying primary flight information on the PFD and video from sensors on an MFD. The new architecture will feature large-format LCDs in an integrated cockpit that can interface with several existing avionics products, including radios, cameras, mission systems and other sensors.

FAST is still in development and is expected to be certified in about two to three years, according to Astronautics president Chad Cundiff.

“Our customers have told us that they want and need a cockpit that features equipment and capabilities designed for helicopters, not

just adapted from fixed-wing applications,” said Astronautics displays product line manager Dan Barks.

“FAST will include a next-generation, helicopter-focused synthetic vision system with technology that will give flight crew a clear view

Astronautics FAST

of obstacles that might be behind their aircraft, cockpit audio warnings and special cues to prevent pilots from backing into obstacles.”

The Milwaukee-based company’s SVS will also give pilots a variable field-of-view during normal flight operations. According to Barks, Astronautics’ synthetic vision

system uses a Jeppesen terrain database and should be certified in 18 to 24 months.

It is also displaying its Class 3 Nexis Helo electronic flight bag system, which encompasses the Nexis Server and one or more handheld MFDs. The system is intended for “heavy duty” helicopter operators that can use it to display ADS-B traffic, terrain and obstacles; acquire and manage FOQA and health usage and monitoring systems data; and securely retrieve digitally recorded flight data from the aircraft. It will also include en route moving maps, airport maps and an integrated HTAWS. On March 3 at Heli-Expo, Astronautics announced that Latviabased cargo, utility and firefighting helicopter operator GM Helicopters placed an order for Nexis Helo for its fleet of Mi-8s. Each installation will include the Nexis Server and a pair of six-by-eight-inch ­multifunction color displays. –C.T.

SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE

Lou Bartolotta

Bell Lifetime Achievement Award Lou Bartolotta is the recipient of this year’s Helicopter Association International Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored

by Bell Helicopter. He has devoted his entire adult life to the industry and participated in many historical rotorcraft milestones.

Bartolotta joined the U.S. Army in 1969 and flew more than 1,000 hours during his one-year tour in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. In the mid-1970s, he joined Bristow Helicopters, first serving in Tehran in pre-revolution Iran as an instructor in Bristow’s training academy and then as chief pilot on a seismic support contract, flying Bell 205 and 212 helicopters. He transferred to Aberdeen, Scotland, where he flew Sikorsky S-61N and S-76A helicopters in support of North Sea oil exploration and production.

From 1983 to 1985, Bartolotta served as HAI vice president of operations in Washington, D.C. After his stint with HAI, he joined

SAFE FLIGHT SHOWS ICING AND POWERLINE DETECTORS Safe Flight Instrument (Booth 4059) of White Plains, N.Y., is highlighting its icing conditions and powerline detectors for helicopters this week at Heli-Expo 2015.

The icing conditions detector (ICD) provides an instantaneous warning when icing conditions are present, before ice accretion has begun to negatively affect aircraft performance and controllability, according to Safe Flight. The lightweight, low-drag ICD comprises a single line-replaceable unit.

Safe Flight’s FAA- and EASAcertified powerline detection system (PDS) detects 50/60Hzfrequency powerline emissions.

Weighing less than two pounds, the passive PDS provides visual and aural alerts to pilots when approaching an energized power line. (It cannot detect unpowered lines.) As the aircraft flies closer to the power line, the aural tone becomes louder.

Skyhorse Aviation of Pretoria, South Africa, has become the launch customer for the PDS. It plans to install them in its Airbus Helicopters AS350s. It operates eight AS350s and two Pilatus PC-6s.

The White Plains, N.Y. company also announced that Australian Helicopters will install powerline detection systems in six AW139s operating as part of the Ambulance Victoria Emergency Medical Services. –R.R.P.

Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, the German company that later merged with France’s Aerospatiale to form Eurocopter, now known as Airbus Helicopters.

In 1988, Italian manufacturer Agusta appointed Bartolotta vice president of marketing and operations of its U.S. subsidiary in Phil-

adelphia. Agusta and Westland Helicopters of the UK merged in 2000 to form AgustaWestland, and Bartolotta served the company for 26 years. During that time he oversaw numerous projects, including the introduction of the BA609 (now the AW609) civil tiltrotor, eventually becoming senior advisor to the Commercial Business Unit.

Bartolotta retired from AgustaWestland last July but he continues to serve the helicopter industry through his consulting firm, L.P. Bartolotta & Associates of Philadelphia, which he established in September.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bartolotta at the Salute to Excellence ceremony. n

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Cobham has its whole portfolio here

altimeter flight line test set and the GPSG-1000 portable satellite simulator. According to the company, “We are set up to demonstrate how these simulators can help operators and installers verify

by Amy Laboda Cobham Aerospace (Booth 800) has brought four separate divisions and a phalanx of helicopter avionics and satellite simulation equipment to Heli-Expo.

Represented in its booth are

Cobham Aerospace Communications, Cobham AvComm (formerly Aeroflex), Cobham Antenna Systems and Cobham Life Support.

Cobham AvComm designs,

manufactures, and supports avionics test systems for military and commercial fixedand rotary-wing aircraft.

On display at Heli-Expo this year are the ALT-8000 radio

Heli-Expo visitors can see Cobham AvComm’s ALT-8000 test set on display.

functions, such as TAWS, normally reserved for test flights, saving time and money in the hangar.”

Other products on view include Cobham’s audio and radio control display unit (ARCDU); Flexcomm tactical transceivers; digital audio control system (DACS); and AA951000TSO controller audio panel. The ARCDU is a single point-of-control for all aircraft audio and radio systems, saves space and weight, is compatible with civil and military radios and offers intuitive and easily configurable menu pages.

The Flexcomm line of tactical communication radios is designed for unparalleled performance in special-mission airspace. Flexcomm transceivers and control displays deliver maximum interoperability (29.7 to 960 MHz), P-25 on all voice bands and 10 watts of power across all bands for increased clarity and distance.

Cobham’s DACS manages as many as eight receivers and transceivers and is available in cockpit and cabin control configurations, while the AA951000TSO controller manages six transceivers, five receivers and six headphones. o

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AEROMETALS BUYS FDC/AEROFILTERS California-based aircraft parts manufacturer Aerometals (Booth 4259) has completed its purchase of all shares of FDC/aerofilters. It will thus incorporate the company entirely under its name in a transition promised to be seamless, as the two companies had previously displayed together at industry tradeshows for years. For customers making filter purchases, the part numbers will remain the same and all operations, including manufacturing, will remain in El Dorado Hills, just outside Sacramento, according to the company.

–C.E.

Donaldson filters are gaining market share

by Curt Epstein Donaldson Aerospace & Defense announced that its Donaldson Filtration Systems division has received FAA certification for the inlet barrier filter (IBF) system for the Airbus Helicopters EC130T2, the only such system currently available for the helicopter. The IBF helps prevent engine damage in any environment and is approved for year-round operations.

This most recent system features interchangeable filter elements for mixed-fleet operators currently flying both the EC130 and the AS350B3e equipped with Donaldson filters. A key element is the sealed intake plenum, which replaces inlet screens or less effective sand filters/particle separators with minimal modification, according to the manufacturer. The design on display at the company’s Heli-Expo booth (4600) also includes an aft-facing bypass system, which like the filter itself is flush with the upper surface of the cowling.

The company has been

manufacturing IBF systems for the past 12 years and includes kits for a wide variety of models from AgustaWestland, Bell, Airbus Helicopters and MD Helicopters. “It definitely keeps salt out of the inlet, so if you are an offshore operator or you’re anywhere near salt water, it’s very effective, so any kind of particulate, fine sand, ash, salt, it’s going to capture it,” said Bob Stenberg, the company’s director of business development. “The big thing is it keeps the air going into the turbine engine clean, and turbine engines like clean air.” This latest offering, like those of its predecessors, has a simple cockpit switch to indicate activation of the bypass system, as well as an integral filter-maintenance aid, which allows for on-condition inspections between service intervals, eliminating unnecessary filter service. “[OEMs] don’t want develop [filtration systems] on their own, so they are looking more at working with manufacturers

like us,” said Stenberg, noting his company supplies kits exclusively to Bell for the 429 and will do the same on the 525 Relentless and the 505.

While Donalson’s filters are currently comprised of oilcotton or “wet” media, it believes

it could begin offering dry media filters as soon as this summer, debuting on the Bell 407.

With a mandate to nearly double its market to $180 million in gross sales revenue by 2021, Donaldson plans to roll out five additional products this year, including gaining Canadian certification for an IBF for the Sikorsky S-61, developed with Canadian operator Coulson, which is also on display

here. The company has also begun work on a filter system for the Robinson R66. In addition to several projects for the military, the Minneapolis-based company also has its sights set on the Russian Mil MI-8/17/171 family, which it believes will be able to utilize the same system as the S-61. The Super Puma and the Bell 412 are other platforms the company is interested in serving. o

RED BULL HEADLINER HELPS ASPEN CELEBRATE A SALES MILESTONE Aspen Avionics has reached a record of 500 installations of its Evolution Flight Display system for helicopters, through a combination of sales to OEMs and used aircraft panel refurbishments. The Aspen Evolution is modular and designed to fit into the round holes left by analog flight instruments, making for a simpler and lower cost way to upgrade to glass displays.

The displays are now a factory option on Robinson R22, R44 and R66 helicopters.

The most recent FAA STCs include the R44, Airbus Helicopters EC120, MD Helicopters MD 369, 530F, 530FF, 520N and 500 and the Bell 206.

To celebrate the milestone Albuquerque, N.M.-based Aspen (Booth 3164) invited noted Red Bull helicopter pilot Chuck Aaron to its booth yesterday to meet and mingle with Heli-Expo attendees. Aaron is the only helicopter pilot certified by the FAA for helicopter aerobatics in the U.S. He’s one of only three performing helicopter aerobatic pilots worldwide.

Phoenix Heliparts (Booth 2059) now has an STC for installing the Evolution displays, including the Pilot, Pro 1000, Pro 1500 and Pro 2000 in various MD helicopter models including the 369, 530F, 530FF and 520N. The installed package includes an integral air Aspen Evolution data computer and an attitude heading reference system.

–A.L.

www.ainonline.com • March 5, 2015 • HAI Convention News 13

“We use Airwolf’s TT Straps and are glad that someone is helping keep our Bell helicopters flying while reducing costs.”

— Alfonso Garcia, Great Slave Helicopters.

Breeze-Eastern launches innovative smart rescue hoist

by Rob Finfrock Hoist and winch manufacturer BreezeEastern (Booth 4032) is unveiling its MissionView situational awareness system at this year’s Heli-Expo. The upgraded rescue hoist is equipped with an integrated camera and rangefinder, spotlight and a load-sensing, LED-illuminated hook to provide greater situational awareness to onsite aerial rescue crews.

“When you observe rescue operations, you see ground crews giving hand signals to the hoist operator and the operator radioing the pilot to hover ‘right three feet, back ten’ and such,” explained CEO Brad Pedersen. “Why in this day and age are we relying on the interpretation of hand signals and radio calls to perform this vital mission?”

Development of the MissionView system resulted from consultations with pilots and hoist operators about which features were most important. The package provides onsite crews with wirelessly transmitted real-time mission video and relevant data, while post-mission senior personnel, flight crews and maintainers benefit from recorded video and loading data. “The crews we spoke with all pinpointed certain key items,” Pedersen added. “We took these suggestions and made the hook ‘smart’ so it could provide the complete picture.”

“This information is vital not just for situational awareness, but also for training purposes,” added Mike Stolarz, vice president of business development. “We can now go back and review lifecycles for the cable, hoist and hook to assist in long-term overall cost. That raises the buoyancy of how we look at this system. It’s not a commodity, but an entire system architecture.”

Breeze-Eastern’s new hoist incorporates “smart’”capabilities to transmit real-time mission video and data to pilots and hoist operators.

In addition to a renewed focus on new products, Pedersen also emphasized the importance of maintaining the company’s legacy product lines and improving training and support programs. To these ends, Breeze-Eastern is working to shorten parts order turnaround times and launched a new web portal for tracking order status.

“Our intent is to get communications to flow as quickly as possible between customers and the company,” Stolarz added.

Breeze-Eastern also recently partnered with Priority 1 Air Rescue of Mesa, Ariz., to provide hoist-operator training on its systems. “Company-supported training makes life easier for rescue crews and raises the quality of that training,” Pedersen said. o

Airwolf 204/205/212, UH-1, AH-1 TT Straps Now FAA STC’d and IN STOCK

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36 Month Bell 206/206L, OH-58 Straps also in stock.

PAPILLON CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

BOOTH #429 Phone: 440-632-1687 • www.airwolfaerospace.com 14 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Helicopter tour company Papillon Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the debut of a specially painted and outfitted Airbus Helicopters EC130T2 here at Heli-Expo.

Toasting the arrival of the new aircraft are, left to right, Elling Halvorson, Papillon founder; Brenda Halvorson, Papillon CEO and president; Marc Paganini, Airbus Helicopters Inc. president and CEO; and Lon Halvorson, Papillon Group executive v-p.

SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE Airbus Helicopters Golden Hour Award On March 22, 2014 an unstable hill collapsed just east of Oso, Wash., setting off what has been called the deadliest landslide in U.S. history. By chance, the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team (HRT) was conducting a training exercise just 25 miles south at the time.

This proximity enabled the mostly volunteer team to dispatch and reach the site within about an hour of the landslide. Their “SnoHawk 10” Bell UH-1H was the first to arrive, about 45 minutes ahead of a U.S. Navy helicopter from NAS Whidbey Island.

Over the next several hours, the two helicopters pulled about 14 people from the dirt, silt and sand that blanketed the ground below. The rescue team continued to support efforts at Oso in the ensuing days.

The landslide covered about a square mile, swallowing a small, rural group of homes, and more than 40 people lost their lives as a result. All but one of the people pulled out by the two helicopters the day of the landslide survived.

For the Snohomish County HRT, the Oso rescue was only one of about 80 calls it gets on average every year. The team’s rescues run the gamut, including missing children, lost Alzheimer’s patients, missing hikers and rafters, people trapped by floods and injured climbers and skiers.

The rescues occur both in and out of the county, from urban areas to the most remote regions of the Cascade Mountains.

The team’s efforts were honored as part of HAI’s 2015 Salute to Excellence awards, presented annually to individuals and organizations that “exemplify the best of the helicopter industry.” The team was selected as this year’s winner of the Airbus Helicopters Golden Hour Award, which recognizes “an individual, group, or organization that, through a particular activity or contributions over time, has advanced the use of helicopters in the vital mission of air medical transport.” The award was presented during HAI’s Salute to Excellence celebration yesterday evening.

“Lost or injured hikers and climbers in Washington State’s rugged Cascade Mountains have no better friends than the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team,” HAI said in announcing the award.

The team is part of the Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue program, staffed by a small core of deputies but primarily comprising more than two dozen volunteers, including pilots,

flight medics, crew chiefs and rescue volunteers. They pay for their own equipment and specialized training. The team notes the dedication of the volunteers, saying they uphold the motto, “so that others may live.” The team does not charge for its rescues, relying on a tight budget supported

by public funds and donations. It also operates a Hughes 500-P (a modified OH-6A).

In a year-end post, the team said of 2014: “It has been a year of hard work, from the Oso disaster to lost people to brush fires to collapsed bridges to hurt climbers and hikers. We have been at the ready and responded to the best of our abilities.”

–K.L.

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z Eastman Displays Its Rebranded Oil Line For the first time since it acquired BP Turbo Oils, Eastman Chemical (Booth 4004) is at Heli-Expo to display its rebranded line of Eastman Turbo Oils. While the name has changed, the products will still carry the same approvals, applications and proven performance customers have depended on, according to the company.

It is also highlighting two product milestones here at the show. Eastman Turbo Oil 2197 recently achieved more than 300 million engine/accessory hours of successful operation, while the company’s 2380 turbo oil has now been in service for 50 years.

z R-R Taps Marion Blakey For Leadership Role Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) chief executive Marion Blakey has been appointed president and CEO of engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce North America (Booth 3228). The former FAA administrator will replace James Guyette, who is retiring in May. GE Aviation president and CEO David Joyce, who serves as AIA chairman, said the association is “quickly moving forward” to name a successor.

“We are extremely pleased to have Ms. Blakey leading the North American region because she brings deep industry perspective and is a well-respected voice in Washington,” said Rolls-Royce chief executive John Rishton. “These markets are critical to our aerospace and land and sea divisions, and I am delighted to have a person of her caliber join us in this role.” Rolls-Royce operates an advanced manufacturing and research facility near Petersburg, Va.; a jet engine test cell at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and engine test and manufacturing facilities in Indianapolis.

In the helicopter market, Rolls-Royce produces the M250 turboshaft that powers the Bell 206, MD Helicopters MD500 and 520N, as well as the RR300 for the Robinson R66 and Scott’s Bell 47GT-6. In collaboration with Honeywell, Rolls-Royce has developed the CTS800 engine.

z Panalpina Packs Up Helos in Afghanistan Panalpina Heliship (Booth 2663) recently arranged for 13 medium and heavy civil helicopters to be shipped out of Afghanistan. In most cases, the helicopters were flown to Dubai aboard An-124 or Il-76 cargo aircraft and then either airforwarded or ocean shipped to their final destinations. Models shipped by Panalpina included the Bell 212, Sikorsky S-61, Airbus AS330J and Columbia 234.

Once the helicopters arrived at their destination airport or port, Panalpina arranged for either trucking to a final destination or supported reassembly and fly-off from the port.

Panalpina is displaying a slide show of the process at its booth here at Heli-Expo.

The company provides transportation and logistics services to international helicopter operators, OEMs and MROs worldwide through offices in Vancouver and New Orleans.

UK helicopter museum shifts to growth mode

by Curt Epstein As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, The Helicopter Museum (THM) at the UK’s Weston-super-Mare, the world’s largest dedicated rotorcraft museum, is about to embark on an expansion program. A government Coastal Communities grant has allowed THM to buy an additional four acres of land adjoining its current location.

The grant will also help fund the restoration of the airfield’s original 1935-vintage wooden control tower and adjacent 1940s pilots block.

THM’s collection includes more than 100 helicopters from around the world, the latest on display being a

Gyrodyne QH-50D U.S. Navy drone from the 1960s, the ancestor of today’s Northrup Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout.

The museum has thus faced a space crunch, according to THM Trustees chairman Elfan ap Rees. “We are rapidly running out of under-cover space for the collection and the Coastal Communities grant will kick-start our expansion,” he said. “However, we desperately need additional hangar space and to replace our frontof-house facilities housed in a temporary prefabricated building that was at least 30 years old when we moved on site 25 years ago.”

JSSI eying helicopters for MSP subscriptions

by Chad Trautvetter Hourly cost aircraft maintenance program provider Jet Support Services (JSSI; Booth 2237) is recommitting to the helicopter space, company president and CEO Neil Book told AIN on Tuesday. As part of this effort, JSSI is attending its first Heli-Expo since Neil was tapped to head the Chicagobased company in late 2012,

and JSSI recently created a dedicated helicopter program team led by 30-year industry veteran Ray Weiner.

JSSI, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, has always offered hourly maintenance programs for rotorcraft, and currently covers 70 helicopter models with new ones being added as they enter

Guardian Mobility (Booth 3759)–an Ottawa, Ontario-based company that provides solutions for global tracking and voice and data communications to aircraft operators–announced just before Heli-Expo 2015 that it has a new dealer: Atlanta-based Precision Aviation Group (PAG).

With 235,000 sq ft of sales and service facilities in seven cities around the world, the company is set to represent Guardian’s G3, G5 and G7 products for automated flight following, handheld satellite-based messaging and flight data management and analysis solutions, respectively.

“PAG’s aggressive growth strategy paired with its commitment to excellence in customer service and product support is an ideal match for Guardian,” said Guardian COO Stephane Momy. “With its support as a dealer, we can accelerate our growth and increase our customer base,” she continued. Guardian is a Knowmadics company.

16 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

MARIANO ROSALES

z Guardian Mobility Signs Precision Aviation Group

SOUNDS BY SIKORSKY The Rhythm Trail steel-drum band entertained Heli-Expo attendees with their percussive island melodies at the Sikorsky exhibit (Booth 4537).

MARIANO ROSALES

NEWS CLIPS

THM Trustees chairman Elfan ap Rees is looking for more hangar space to store more than 100 rotorcraft.

The museum hopes to raise an additional £2 million to match another government grant to fund further construction. Those interested in finding out more information can speak with ap Rees at Booth 5207. o service. However, until now it has not made a big marketing push for the rotorcraft market, with helicopters accounting for only a “small fraction” of the more than 2,000 aircraft on JSSI hourly cost maintenance programs.

“We now see helicopters as an untapped market,” Book said.

“And with fluctuating oil prices, these operators now more than ever need the budget stability that JSSI’s hourly maintenance programs offer.”

Under its programs, operators can cover their engines, airframes or both. Book said that pricing for helicopter engine coverage is similar to that for fixed-wing aircraft, while pricing for helicopter airframes will be somewhat higher, though this depends on the model.

JSSI can cover a single aircraft or a whole fleet, Book noted. “For fleets, we offer one program, one program administrator and the same technical services team, which simplifies things for operators.” Maintenance reserves are also transferrable, with aircraft owners having the option to sell it with the aircraft or keep them after the sale and applying them to their new airplane or helicopter. o

Flexible.

Independent.

Long-term.

The Waypoint Advantage

Waypoint is the world’s largest independent helicopter leasing company, with leasing expertise in more than 20 countries and a fleet of 85 aircraft on lease, coupled with a large selection of multi-year forward deliveries, representing a combined value of $3 billion. Waypoint forges lasting relationships with leading helicopter operators worldwide, who value the integrity, experience and long-term commitment of Waypoint’s leadership team and financial sponsors. As former helicopter operators, we understand the difficult fleet management and market challenges operators face and structure flexible leasing solutions to solve them.

We put operators first — always.

Visit us at Heli-Expo 2015 Booth #1812

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NEWS CLIPS z Hillsboro Aviation Set for Major Expansion

z P&WC Has Fresh MRO Plans for Mature Engines Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC, Booth 4428) is highlighting its new suite of maintenance solutions for mature helicopter engines offered under the P&WC Smart banner, “developed in direct response to customer demand,” according to the turboshaft OEM. The solutions include a refresh program for PT6T-3 and T400 engines that offers a core exchange for a new PT6T-3B Twin-Pac, power section or gear box; a flat-rate overhaul for PT6B-36A/B engines; and capped costs for overhaul and hot section inspection on PT6B-37A engines. “This is an example of the company responding to the various in-field challenges that operators face,” said P&WC vice president of customer service John Di Bert.

Whatever their MRO needs, P&WC engine operators now have additional servicing locations and facilities available. The company recently appointed Dallas Airmotive and H+S Aviation of Abu Dhabi as designated overhaul facilities for turboshaft engines and for MRO services.

Dallas Airmotive provides support for P&WC’s PW206 and PW207 engine families and will add the PW210 series engines by year-end. In addition to the PW206 and PW207, H+S Aviation supports the PT6C-67 and will also add the PW210 family by year-end and PT6T engines next year.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance service delivery and make support easily within reach anywhere in the world,” said Di Bert.

z Spectro Jet-Care Joins HeliOffshore Safety Group Engine condition monitoring specialist Spectro Jet-Care (Booth 2855) has become an alliance member of HeliOffshore, the global organization of major providers of offshore helicopter transportation, whose major focus is on safety.

“We are delighted to see the formation of HeliOffshore and had no hesitation in joining,” said Spectro Jet-Care sales and marketing manager Alan Baker.

The company also noted that engine OEM Turbomeca and Airbus Helicopters have given continuing approval of Spectro Jet-Care’s UK and Swiss laboratories for debris analysis using scanning electron microscopes. It has been providing fluid and debris analysis services to the offshore helicopter market for almost 40 years.

Spectro Jet-Care’s webECHO portal provides customers with online access to their latest sample results and trend reports. Designed to work on desktops and mobile devices, webECHO provides in one location all of a customer’s analysis and results regarding oil, hydraulic oil, fuel, debris and filter analysis. “For customers with fleets of aircraft, webECHO is particularly useful in managing their condition monitoring programs,” Baker said.

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Oregon-based helicopter operator, FBO and maintenance provider Hillsboro Aviation (Booth 1031) has announced expansion plans including a new corporate headquarters and hangar at its base at Portland-Hillsboro Airport. Set to begin this summer, the 425,000-sq-ft construction project, which will accommodate the company’s growing business sectors, is expect to be completed next year.

“Our new facility reflects our position as a complete helicopter and airplane service operator and will fulfill any of our customers’ needs from aircraft and parts sales to overhaul services and international shipping logistics,” said Max Lyons, Hillsboro’s owner and president and vice chairman of HAI. With environmental sensitivity a major consideration in its design, the new facility will include recycled materials while the roof will accommodate a photovoltaic energy system. Among the amenities planned for staff and customers will be a completely outfitted gym. “We face an unprecedented opportunity for growth and are eager to proceed with a modern and environmentallyfriendly design,” said general manager Ryan McCartney.

VROOM, WITH A VIEW Bell’s developmental Model 505 Jet Ranger X promises to be not only an impressive performer, but also very well equipped in the cockpit. It features Garmin’s G1000H, with synthetic vision, among other features.

FSI plunging deeper into helicopter sim field

by Mark Huber Flight training provider FlightSafety International (Booth 3708) plans to increase its fleet of advanced Level D helicopter simulators by more than 40 percent. It will be adding simulators for the Bell 407GX and 412EPi models, as well as for the Airbus Helicopters AS350B3, EC130T2 and EC145 and the Sikorsky S-76C+/++, S-76D and S-92. FlightSafety plans to install the new simulators at its learning centers in Dallas, Denver and Singapore and another location to be determined by customer requirements.

The Denver center will be opening in 2016 in conjunction with emergency medical operator Air Methods. The company recently signed a 10-year deal with FlightSafety International to install four full-motion Level D-qualified helicopter flight simulators in Denver.

The Airbus EC135 simulator currently being used by Air Methods at FlightSafety’s Dallas learning center will be installed first, with simulators for the Bell 407GX and Airbus AS350 B3 and Airbus EC130T2 to follow once FlightSafety completes the design, development and manufacture of those simulators. The learning center will also offer classrooms and a full complement of customer service areas.

It will be expanded in the future to accommodate additional full flight simulators as required.

The four helicopter models represent the majority of the

18 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

400-plus-strong Air Methods helicopter fleet at both its airmedical and tourism divisions, company CEO Aaron Todd told AIN. Todd noted that last year “represented another year of safe operations” for the company. “We always count our blessings when our employees and patient passengers get home safely and that is not by chance. We have invested heavily in training, technology and safety systems.

We are encouraged by the continuous improvement in our safety record and we continue to work hard and stay humble,” he said.

FlightSafety International has plans to add a bevy of new Level D simulators.

FlightSafety has built more than 100 helicopter simulators and advanced training devices.

The new helicopter simulators will feature the company’s Vital 1100 visual imaging system with fields of view up to 300 degrees horizontally, CrewView glass mirror display, electric motion control and cueing and an advanced instructor operating station. o

LCI TO HANDLE HELICOPTERS FOR SQN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SQN Capital Management has contracted leasing group LCI Helicopters to manage a fleet of seven recently-acquired rotorcraft. LCI (Booth 4604) will handle asset management, insurance, rent collection, maintenance oversight, aircraft inspections and remarketing services for SQN, which supports and advises institutional investors on asset management.

The exact types of helicopter covered by the agreement have not been disclosed, but they are all twin-engine models. The aircraft will be operated by AAR Corp. and Erickson.

“LCI is a well-respected proven leader in aircraft asset management and we are pleased to place our assets in their capable hands to maintain and enhance the value of our fleet,” SQN Capital executive vice president Michael Miroshnikov. LCI has 90 helicopters now under lease or due for delivery.

Separately, LCI has agreed to lease a second AgustaWestland AW139 to HeliService International, an offshore service provider in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Under a deal signed today, the aircraft will be delivered during March, joining another AW139 that entered service in November 2014.

–C.A.

Corridor Mobile Mechanic multi-platform app available

by David A. Lombardo Continuum Applied Technology’s mobile application, Corridor Mobile Mechanic, is now available for multiplatform devices. A supplement to Continuum’s Corridor Aviation Service Software, Corridor Mobile Mechanic facilitates wireless access to the Corridor system during maintenance activities. Technicians and supervisors can wirelessly add, request or view labor, parts and services as well as perform inspections, signoffs and much more, in real-time.

“The maintenance hangar is a mobile environment, and the idea to create Corridor mobile applications was a no-brainer,” said Continuum founder and president Jack Demeis. “Our goal is to develop applications that directly target a process or function that will benefit from the mobile nature of the technology, increasing the optimization provided by Corridor software.”

The Corridor Mobile Mechanic app

is device-independent, allowing users to run the application on virtually any network-connected tablet, phone or other handheld device running on a major platform (iOS, Android, Windows). Corridor Mobile Mechanic is available at no additional charge to currently supported Corridor customers running Version 11.

New features released with Version 11 of the Corridor software include the Tool Crib, for tracking tools and calibration information; the Time & Attendance personnel management tool; and Planning & Scheduling, which allows scheduling and monitoring of work progress via a graphical calendar view. Corridor also integrates with software for accounting, maintenance recordkeeping and flight operations.

Helicopter companies that use Corridor software (Booth 4330) include Advanced Helicopter Services, AgustaWestland, Eagle Copters, Timberline Helicopters and many others. o

HELI-EXPO Booth #3728

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From the Middle East, to Down Under in Australia, to the bayous of Louisiana, AgustaWestland is ramping up AW139 training.

AGUSTAWESTLAND DESIGNATES NEW AW139 TRAINING CENTERS AgustaWestland has approved FlightSafety International’s facility in Lafayette, La. as a company-authorized training center with the addition of a level-D full-flight simulator for the new generation AW139. The manufacturer currently has orders for more than 840 of the medium-twin helicopters from approximately 220 customers.

Among its latest are eight from Australia’s Toll Group, which will be used for emergency medical services. As part of the agreement, Toll’s base in Bankstown near Sydney will also become an AgustaWestland authorized training center and home to the country’s first AW139 level D simulator. The Croatian police have also placed an order for a specially outfitted AW139 to be used for border control operations.

AgustaWestland (Booth 5111) has been hard at work filling those orders, tallying recent deliveries of a trio of search-and-rescue-equipped AW139s to the Joint Aviation Command of the United Arab Emirates, one EMS-configured AW139 to Australian Helicopters (leased from LCI) and the completion of an order of eight of the helicopters in a dedicated UH-139C mission configuration to the Italian police.

The company also announced it is ramping up its Middle Eastern product support offerings through AgustaWestland Aviation Services, the joint venture formed with Abu Dhabi Aviation in 2011. Plans include the expansion of component maintenance, repair and overhaul services in the region by the second half of the year along with introduction of capabilities to support the OEM’s latest products such as the AW189 and AW169.

–C.E.

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Universal Avionics has a full lineup of components designed to comply with 2020’s ADS-B deadline.

Universal Avionics provides ADS-B solutions at all levels

SO, THAT’S HOW IT WORKS!

by Curt Epstein With operators looking to meet the FAA’s mandate for ADS-B equipage by 2020, Universal Avionics points out that its SBAS-FMS flight management system qualifies as an approved Arinc A743A position source required for compliance.

It interfaces with all ADS-B transponders including commonly used models such as the Honeywell RCZ8XX series and Rockwell Collins TDR-94D. “With the U.S. mandate less than five years away, now is the time to upgrade to have more flexibility and avoid the installation traffic and increased downtime,” noted Dan Reida, Universal’s vice president of sales and marketing.

The Tucson, Ariz.-based company (Booth 4655) also announced that its

AHS-525 Attitude Heading Reference System is undergoing helicopter vibration testing on its way to TSO approval.

A single AHS-525 unit will replace multiple line replaceable units found in a typical aircraft installation, offering a reduction in LRU footprint, weight, wiring and power requirements, which will help in retrofit situations, according to the manufacturer.

Finally, in partnership with Howell Instruments, the company has completed the first round of data acquisition unit testing for use in the InSight Integrated Flight Deck, which was rolled out last October at NBAA 2014.

Launch customer MD Helicopters will use the cockpit suite in its next-generation Explorer. o

ASU’s OWLS sees day and night

by Amy Laboda Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) demonstrated live streaming from its ultra-lightweight observation, wide-area low-altitude sensor OWLS day/night gimbaled camera at Heli-Expo. The 1.2 pound microgimbal is designed as a lowaltitude system, designed to “see” a mansized object at a distance of 1,000 feet agl, according to Joe Estrera, chief technology officer for ASU (Booth 3012).

“OWLS is capable of both daylight

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It can be confusing trying to wrap your brain around how a helicopter translates engine power into spinning rotors, front and rear. This transmission system at the Heli-Mart booth (4028) helps explain.

Aviation Specialties Unlimited is showing live streaming from its observation, wide-area, low-altitude sensor (OWLS) here at Heli-Expo.

and night vision,” he said. The camera’s microelectronics can also digitally fuse, pixel by pixel, night-vision with infrared imagery, making it possible see through smoke and other atmospheric obscurations. OWLS rotates 360 degrees and can be fully retracted inside an aircraft fuselage for high speed transit between photo sites.

“We are in transition to production with a target for the summer 2015 for low rate production,” said Estrera. Initial production is expected to be around 10 units per week.

The system will retail for around $50,000 per unit, according to ASU president Jim Winkel. “We see fixed-wing agriculture business where nighttime spraying and nighttime production occurs, there is a market,” he said.

He also expects public-use, lawenforcement and firefighting agencies to want OWLS. “We are excited to see the [unmanned aircraft proposed rule], and we are carefully looking at how we think it applies to our technology. You can be sure we’ll give that feedback to the FAA,” he continued. o

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Visit us at booth 5408 20 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

Esterline CMC Electronics (Booth 4037) will provide the primary navigation systems for the new Airbus Helicopters H160 (formerly known as the X4). The new twin, will serve multiple applications, including oil-and-gas exploration, search-and-rescue, public services and private operations.

The Canadian company will supply its CMA-9000 flight management system (FMS) and Interflight CMA-5024 GPS for the H160. The FMS provides flight management and multisensor navigation, radio management and specialized functions to reduce pilot workload during critical operations. The unit, which supports civil and military navigation modes, complies with the latest standards for required navigation performance (RNP) and satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) approaches.

The CMA-5024 meets the H160’s requirement for IFR flight using a civil-certified global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and provides Waas SBAS GPS capability from departure to a non-precision approach. Waas/SBAS augments GPS to support X4 operations from en route through a CAT-1 equivalent precision approach using GNSS and Waas/SBAS localizer o performance with vertical guidance (LPV).

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Mobile Video Downlink System Displayed in Command Center Truck

StandardAero highlights HMU for cooler engines

by James Wynbrandt MRO provider StandardAero (Booth 3232) is showcasing here at Heli-Expo a custom-overhauled hydromechanical unit (HMU) for operators of RollsRoyce M250-C47 engines that lowers starting temperatures in warm conditions. The HMU was designed as part of StandardAero’s continuous improvement efforts on the M250-C47 engine.

Manny Atwal, vice president of StandardAero Helicopters, noted

that some M250 Series IV Fadec engines flown in hot/high conditions experience elevated starting temperatures, leading operators to resort to alternate starting procedures. The custom-overhauled HMU solution, now in use on more than 20 helicopters, confirms start-temperature reductions of more than 120 deg C on several HMUs with a history of warmstarting problems, according to data provided by operators.

Sikorsky S-76D uContinued from page 1

effectiveness. This slower rotation uses less power and this and the shape of the blades lowers noise by about two to three decibels. The addition of active vibration control provides more comfort for passengers and crew.

Sikorsky chose Thales TopDeck for the S76-D’s all-glass cockpit, while Rockwell Collins provides Pro Line navcom radios and Honeywell the enhanced ground-proximity warning system. TopDeck has two cursor control devices (CCDs)–one for each pilot–that use track balls to move a cursor across the two 8-by-6-inch screens in front of each pilot.

The CCDs are fixed on the center console, within easy reach.

With less real estate needed for instrumentation, Sikorsky was able to shave an inch from the bottom of the instrument panel, and trimmed the glare shield a bit as well. The combined effect increases the field of view for the pilots.

Sikorsky has some 60 orders for the S-76D and has delivered about two dozen to date.

PHOTOS: R. RANDALL PADFIELD

1,120 shp for takeoff and redesigned main rotor blades, now all-composite and based on the S-92’s main rotor blades, and new tail rotor blades.

For a Category A takeoff on a ISA+15 day, the engines add about 600 pounds of performance lift, while the new main rotor blades add another 500 pounds, meaning one can take off the S-76D with a gross weight that is 1,100 pounds higher than what the C++ could lift.

Sikorsky cites an improvement in cruise speed when considering fuel consumption; using this measure, the D model shows about 152 knots compared to the C++ with 134 knots. “This aircraft wants to get up and fly because of its power and the blades,” Altieri said.

The tailrotor blades have a one-inch longer chord, a higher life airfoil and a tapered blade tip, which allows the tailrotor to rotate slower with the same

The Scottsdale, Ariz.-headquartered company is also expanding its helicopter engine rental pool, thanks to an agreement recently reached with Rolls-Royce for the purchase of additional rotorcraft powerplants.

The pool is currently valued at $10 million and includes 25 engines and more than 70 modules, as well as additional RollsRoyce M250-C47B and RR300 engines purchased over the past year to serve Bell 407 and Robinson R66 operators.

StandardAero, which serves customers through six authorized overhaul facilities, lays claim to owning the world’s largest lease and exchange pool of M250 engines. o

Accelerated Media Technologies (AMT) of Auburn, Mass., manufacturers of mission-specific, custom-built tactical communication vehicles, is featuring a multi-platform video downlink/mobile command center truck at its Heli-Expo booth (759). Designed to be deployed quickly and efficiently, the AMT platform, integrated in a Chevrolet Tahoe, is a mobile central receive site for helicopter video downlinks that the company says “offers ease of use, cutting-edge video technology, microwave interoperability and extended air-to-ground receive range.”

“Equipped with the latest microwave technology, this vehicle is interoperable with all DVB-T microwave transmitters,” according to AMT co-founder and vice president of business development Dudley Freeman. “The platform features a high gain 5x1 diversity receiver system mounted on an extendable 30-foot pneumatic mast to provide up to 30 miles of coverage” within an emergency situation, police activity, media event, rapidly unfolding conditions or for assessing manmade or natural fire and disaster damage. “Full video/audio encryption ensures security of all received signals,” Freeman said. Air-to-ground radios can be tailored to an emergency department’s individual requirements. Onsite event monitoring capability includes a 42-inch SunBrite HD monitor, as well as eight other video monitors. –G.G.

Altieri obviously has much experience flying with pilots of various experience and skill, because he allowed me to lift the S-76D (N7621Y) into a hover, do a 180-deg pedal turn, take off toward the south and head along Interstate 4 at about 1,200 feet. He had me set torque at about 60 to 65 percent and then check airspeed (144 knots) and fuel burn (645 pph). The ride was very smooth, with only a slight roughness noticeable.

With five people in the cabin, a straight out-and-back trip along I-4 and oncoming darkness, aggressive in-flight maneuvering, extensive hovering and practice instrument approaches were out of the question. Altieri had me do a 180 after about 10 minutes going south and then we headed back to the Orange County Convention Center. I did the descent and landing to a hover and then lowered the N7621Y to the ground.

As we waited for the engines to cool at idle, Altieri demonstrated several more functions of TopDeck: setting up fight plans and approaches and other such functions. With no previous familiarity with the system, my head was spinning.

“TopDeck has so many functions that once a pilot learns how to fly the S-76D he probably doesn’t know more than 50 percent of what TopDeck can do,” Altieri said. This I easily understood.

While the flight was short, my immediate feeling was one of envy of the professional pilots who will get to fly this helicopter all the time doing whatever they are hired to do: corporate, offshore, search-and-rescue, law enforcement and so on. For myself, I’d just like a chance to fly the S-76D again and really get to know it a lot better.

Altieri’s unabashed enthusiasm for the D model is infectious. o

PHOENIX HELIPARTS, TRUE BLUE TEAM ON BATTERY STCs Phoenix Heliparts announced here at Heli-Expo a partnership with True Blue Power, a division of Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics (Booth 712), to pursue FAA Part 27 STCs for installation of the True Blue TB17 lithium-ion battery into many of the airframes supported by Phoenix Heliparts (Booth 2059). The TB17 is a main ship battery providing significant weight savings over lead-acid and nicad batteries, and is designed to lower cost of ownership 50 to 90 percent through reduced scheduled maintenance, according to True Blue Power. The batteries are on display at both companies’ booths.

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics is also making news here, announcing that its MD302 Standby Attitude Module (SAM), on display at the company’s booth, has been selected as the standby display for the Bell 407GX, Enstrom 480B-G and MD900 Explorer.

SAM is the first digital standby to provide attitude, altitude, airspeed, slip, vertical trend and interfaced heading information in a two-inch format.

–C.E.

Sikorsky’s S-76D features a Thales TopDeck all-glass cockpit with Rockwell Collins Pro Line navcom radios and Honeywell enhanced ground proximity warning system.

WAYPOINT APPOINTS CLARK MCGINN TO HEAD SALES TEAM

MARIANO ROSALES

Independent helicopter leasing group Waypoint Leasing announced the appointment of Clark McGinn as its new senior vice president of sales. McGinn, who will join Waypoint during the second quarter of 2015, is currently managing director of CHC Leasing.

“Clark built the Dublin-based CHC Leasing team from the ground up, a team responsible for executing all aircraft financing and leasing transactions, and managing lessor, lender and OEM financing relationships,” said Waypoint Leasing CEO Ed Washecka. “We look forward to leveraging Clark’s expertise and management skills as we continue to grow Waypoint’s position as the leading independent global helicopter lessor.”

At the Heli-Expo show Waypoint Leasing (Booth 1812) signed a memorandum of understanding for 20 Bell 525 Relentless helicopters. The Ireland-based group leases helicopters to various industry sectors, including oil and gas, emergency medical service, search-andrescue and governmental support.

–C.A.

22 HAI Convention News • March 5, 2015 • www.ainonline.com

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